ACT Labor commits Canberra charities to doomed Commission

MEMBER for Fraser Andrew Leigh has joined the Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr in calling for the Commonwealth to reverse the decision to abolish the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC).

“If the Commonwealth commits to keeping the ACNC, the ACT Government will legislate so that charities and other incorporated associations do not need to duplicate reporting made to the ACNC,” Minister Barr said.

“This ‘report once, use many’ principle will reduce the regulatory burden on charities.”

“Only a national regulator can provide a one-stop shop and reduce reporting duplication for charities that work and fundraise across states and territories.”

The two claim that the savings to charities in the ACT alone would be in the order of $2 million.

“The ACT Government’s cooperation with the ACNC demonstrates how the reporting burden can be reduced forCanberra charities – allowing them to spend more time building community and helping the vulnerable,” Andrew Leigh said.